Preliminarily functional analysis of a cloned novel human gene ADAM29

ADAM is a family of type I integral membrane proteins which are characterized by sharing a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain and involved in many important physiological processes such as fertilization, neurogenesis and inflammatory response. A novel human ADAM gene--ADAM29, which was cloned in our laboratory, is exclusively expressed in human testis and contains a potential fusion domain. A full-length cDNA of ADAM29 was obtained by using multiple-step PCR. Phylogenetic tree of known mammalian ADAMs specifically expressed in testis was reconstructed. Polyclonal antiserum was raised by immunizing the rabbits with sub-peptide of ADAM29 (Leu268-Asp374) as immunogen. The result of immunohistochemical test on human testis showed that ADAM29 is expressed in different stages of spermatogenesis and in interstitial cells. ADAM29 may play a certain role in the signal transduction during the maturation of testis-associated cells.